The Cult Of Harmony | Honkai Star Rail Lore

[@spiderdude2099]

People need to understand that the Aeons are often completely removed from concepts of morality. Nanook is not “evil” for wanting to destroy all life. It’s just his nature. He EXISTS to destroy. It’s stated that if an Aeon ever strays from their ideal, they cease to exist. Nanook CANNOT stop doing what he is doing or he would cease to exist. But also, realize that he’s actually helped the side of good before. He acknowledges the trailblazer’s desire to destroy the Doomsday beast, and grants him the power of destruction. Even though this DIRECTLY comes into conflict with his own forces. He’s completely impartial in his judgement. He gives his power to those who exemplify his ideal. No matter what

[@Maevix3142]

I agree, I remember reading somewhere before that the aeons are similar to sentient machines who just follow the will of their path in the most extreme sense. Yaoshi is another example of an aeon that cant really be seen as good or evil, she wants to seed and prolong life and that can materialize in either a positive or negative way. What I think is the difference is when we start looking at the factions themselves. While the Aeons are more like a force of nature, the factions intepret them in their own ways and act in their name but may have different motives that are purely related to the path they claim to follow. So perhaps I couldve been a bit clearer in the video but I dont think Xipe is evil or good one way or another but how her faction implements or inteprets her will can definitely be viewed through the lens of morality

[@weaboo101]

Also, if there is a concept that is the same to the ideal that is broader or larger than before it will be subsumed or assimilated and a new aeon will ascend... Ena the order, the aeon that embodies order got assimilated as soon as xipe appeared because her path/ideal/concept is the same with Ena while at the same time bigger, broader than it. So I can theorize that maybe the Stellaron hunters are finding a way to ascend someone that can embody another an ideal concept of that is the same with destruction, but not narrow like Nanook which represents entropy and just eradication of anything and everything.

[@no-mi5yo]

i know im a bit late to this but what about emanators like Phantylia the lord ravager of the antimatter legion? Emanators from my understanding are just followers of a certain path that have gained power from that paths aeon. Do they have a choice on being good or evil or are they in the same situation as the aeons?

[@spiderdude2099]

@@no-mi5yo they do have a choice. They are beings that are just granted a larger amount of the Aeon power than usual

[@berb4413]

Amen brother

[@mayamoon9207]

When I first read the databank entry about The Family I instantly got such heavy cult vibes and I've felt weirded out by Xipe ever since

[@Maevix3142]

Its the weird smiling that creeped me out, im also curious what the 2 other faces xipe has. What if her main face is all nice and happy but the other two are just angry and twisted

[@idaniluz652]

​@@Maevix3142we know that Xipe absorbed the paths of order and beauty, so maybe they gain a new face for every path/aeon they absorb.

[@specturv9836]

@@idaniluz652beauty? When?

[@artaquino6388]

​@@idaniluz652just the order, not beauty

[@beashemmad.sayson545]

@@idaniluz652order only

[@electroneurons]

Maybe the path of elation ain't so bad after all...

[@Maevix3142]

Well theyre motto is have fun, while xipe here is basically join us or else 😂

[@idontspeakjapanese6289]

If you think about it, the internet itself is part of the Elation

[@nigby6237]

@@idontspeakjapanese6289you’re thinking about the Aeon of Erudition big homie. The supercomputer is Erudition

[@FrenchDinosaur]

​@@nigby6237that completely flew over your head lmao. They're implying that the whole internet is just one big joke, which when you think about it, is not that far off.

[@eeveeofalltrades4780]

​@@nigby6237the internet was created by Erudition but is mostly used by Elation

[@chaddickhaut140]

I think the point of the paths is that they all can have a negative impact when taken to the extreme. Too much Abundance leads to cursed unending life, Preservation taken to the extreme leads to a sort of "helicopter parent" protectionism, Elation unchecked leads to destructive thrill-seeking. Likewise, Harmony taken to the extreme could lead to a mind control cult. On the other hand, even the more inherently violent paths can serve the cause of good. Even Destruction might manifest as righteous indignation that drives an individual to help someone else. This latter point makes me wonder if Ellio's plan to have the Trailblazer defeat Nanook might not have unintended consequences, if it were to succeed.

[@Maevix3142]

Essentially yes, but I do wonder why the extremes have always sort of been negative with what weve seen so far but I guess we just have been shown the good that it does. With the trailblazer, I have this suspicion that since killing an aeon doesnt mean the path will necessarily disappear elio plans to put a placeholder in nanooks position, maybe someone they could control. Otherwise Id be curious to see what happens if a concept dies, like if destruction were to disappear what would it mean for the galaxy at large, I suppose other overlapping paths would just absorb elements of it but still interesting to think about 😁

[@Birthday888]

​@@Maevix3142 It could be that Elio wants to replace Nanook with the Trailblazer? But I also agree that the death of an Aeon doesn't destroy their Path. I think canonically, all of the members of the Astral Express, follow the Path of Trailblaze. Like how Bronya is Harmony in gameplay, but in-universe is closer to Preservation due to being the Supreme Guardian.

[@chaddickhaut140]

I agree the death of an Aeon doesn't necessarily mean their path will vanish. The point I had meant to make is that the resulting power vacuum will be filled by someone or *something*. Perhaps Ellio wants the Trailblazer to take Nanook's place, but what if, for example, the Voracity swoops in and subsumes Destruction (it is conceptually similar, after all)? Replacing the Antimatter League with Leviathans as the major threat to the galaxy would not likely be an improvement. 😉

[@TheTenzen12]

I would say things about Aeons is that they are nothing but extreme. They ascend by fully embrance one concept and abandoning everything else to the point that just by hesitating following their path would puff them out of existence. That said while all Aeons are extreme not all Aeons are have negative impact. Nous, IX and Qliphoth are basically innert as learning, being hikkikomori or building wall can be done without involving themselves with anyone else.

[@neko119]

​@@Maevix3142It's the same as the extremes in real life. You have too much fun, your standards are gonna be unbalanced and you're gonna be heavily affected when it didn't meet your expectations. If you have too much sadness, then it will lead to a serious case of depression.

[@harryharper5358]

Only beings obsessed with Destruction would see Xipe's smile being twisted. I have never seen an aura so bright and calm. A smile so benevolent, with other faces a sigh of relief that they are freed from the chaos of the universe. Harmony is the only true freedom for the soul, free from desires, free from agony, pain and desperation. Harmony brings joy to life, brings peace to death. Everyone sings as one, one sings as everyone. Harmony is the only way to save us from destruction of everything we created. Hail Xipe, hail true progress, hail Harmony!

[@specturv9836]

One of us〜 one of us〜 (the voices chanted in sync)

[@beashemmad.sayson545]

Real

[@diaochan7506]

Now, Robin is the main representative of playable Harmony path faction, the family.

[@junolee3111]

There is no war in Penacony

[@Maevix3142]

We need a creepy smiling character just repeating those words to the nameless as they arrive 😂

[@grandkalbi5331]

xipe themselves is all about harmony, whatever the broad concept entails. just her followers may be crazy. its just like yaoshi who, like all the aeons, embodies the concept and has no "moral" ground to it, as long as they are doing their thang.

[@Maevix3142]

Thats very possible, i mean the followers tend to be the ones who have a weird intepretation of the aeons. The best example is the followers of preservations who are buildings walls because, well, qlipoth is doing it lol. I doubt xipe is evil in the traditional sense though i wonder what her other faces look like, weve only seen her nice one so far

[@markmarkmark08]

Great theory about Xipe and the Path of Harmony! I was thinking the same about them.

[@Maevix3142]

Theyre either really creepy or maybe just really nice and we just think theyre creepy

[@foxyrouge8775]

With the 2.2 story quest released, you weren’t necessarily off the track. The family never followed Xipe to being with, they followed Ena, The Order, from what I can understand. Anyways, ik this is random and super out of topic but I really wanted to see what an emanator of Harmony and Order could do😭. Idk abt order since their eon is dead so…

[@Maevix3142]

The biggest surprise was that we werent even dealing with the harmony to begin with, just a group of previous followers who have gone rogue so in truth it was kind of a cult but its not the actual family lmao 😂

[@Alphanoob99]

As I said in another video. The family gives be a lot of "Brave new world" vibes. The fact that there is only one Faction in the path of Harmony is a red flag. Chaos is the melting pot on where everything creative can come out of it, such as induviuality. Xipe wants to wipe out all what is chaos for the shake of Harmony and it doing so also wipes out the very part that makes a human, a human: their induviuallity, their creativty and their willingness to try new things. I would go as far as to say that Xipe is just as worse as Yaoshi. Yaoshi wants to create life and prevent death at all costs and in doing so creates absolute horrors

[@Maevix3142]

Most of the aeons are like this though, they exemplify their paths ideals but always to an extreme level. I'm really curious what xipe's other faces are like, imagine if those other faces are what she really thinks but the main one is just the facade of everything is happy and stuff

[@eeveeofalltrades4780]

Yaoshi simply seems to be oblivious to the consequences of giving immortality to species that are not made for immortality. While Xipe most likely knows what people have to sacrifice to join The Family.

[@PLBiohazard]

I wonder if the Penacony story arc will share some similarities with Wandavision and the town of Westview...

[@spiderdude2099]

Himeko literally tells us “the next planet we’re going to was recently TAKEN OVER by the Aeon of harmony.” That is a VERY interesting choice of words….how was it taken over? What happened to the people that existed there before that?

[@Maevix3142]

What makes me curious is that if Himeko is aware of how Harmony works (assuming taking over here was forcibly) why would she wanna go there, isnt it a huge risk for us unless shes confident they wont try to convert us in any way

[@saigonoryuu3101]

@@Maevix3142 maybe there is a personal reason why himeko needs to visit penacony asap. it would also make sense why himeko was reluctant to make a detour (Xianzhou Luofu). And whatever himeko is hiding, welt might be in on it.

[@teslapanda1412]

Wait she said that? Then the next path for trailblazer is probably imaginary harmony

[@spiderdude2099]

@@teslapanda1412 I hope we get a new trailblazer. Still very odd we didn’t get one for the Xianjou.

[@teslapanda1412]

@@spiderdude2099 probably because that's for dan heng

[@spiderdude2099]

Technically speaking…….ruling with an iron fist and complete brainwashing….DOES result in harmony…for better…or WORSE.

[@TheTenzen12]

I definitelly think it's more of hivemind then just cult, but we will see soon.

[@Maevix3142]

I'd love to see a more horror-esque main story where everyone is 'influeced' by the hive mind except for the trailblazer

[@Momentofbruh]

Honestly yeah I love the whole. Only person who isn’t being controlled trope. Not to mention this whole party could be to lure in factions to do the hive mind stuff

[@adamek8316]

4:32 Can we really count the Mourning Actors as followers of Aha? From what I know, the Mourning Actors go around the universe preaching on why elation is bad. They were blessed by because Aha found it very amusing to bless them.

[@eveningstar4560]

I don’t think the Aeon Xipe herself is evil but her faction probably is a cult or maybe has fake followers among the family.We’ll probably find out in the next update because the next planet for the astral express is penacony where the family is located and it will be interesting how to see the story fold out

[@Maevix3142]

I don't personally think the Aeons are good or evil, they just follow the ideals of their paths. Its their followers who act based on morality (or not) though. Most likely its the family itself that might be crazy instead of Xipe

[@litbit6754]

I feel this way about Yaosher, The Abundance is kind and she blessed her worshipers with the blueprint for eternal life, but it was her followers that corrupted it and took advantage of eternity. But idk just my thoughts

[@eeveeofalltrades4780]

If the theory that the lightcones we can get from Herta's store represent the paths the Trailblazer will get, we'll get Hunt Trailblazer first (most likely in something that will happen in the Luofu), and then we'll get Nihility Trailblazer in Penacony, which most likely means the Trailblazer will use the path of Nihility to resist or break free from Harmony.

[@Maevix3142]

Theres actually leaks about the next trailblazer but I dont want to spoil anything here 😁

[@ezirsavan]

OR what if Ena the aeon of Order was the one who actually absorbed Xipe... since 'order' sounds more extremist than 'harmony'

[@Maevix3142]

If im not mistaken kafka mentioned that Xipe was the one to absorb Ena, although would be interesting if the twist was the other way around and Ena just assumed a new name or something

[@Valysion]

more extremist doesn't mean bigger. Order is part of harmony logically.

[@eeveeofalltrades4780]

Even if Order was stronger, Xipe had help from Aha in absorbing Ena

[@MitsuneMuko]

Have you also realized how Xipe's design has 2 frowning faces besides her head?

[@oct91988]

Well at least we dont have to worry about xipe actively destroying or causing trouble as they are locked to their path

[@winsy5241]

I really enjoy this idea of the harmony being cult-like and dictatorial, and I think we are going to see more of that as we head into Penacony. The very idea of the dreamscape ruled by the family--and by extension the harmony--really fits into this idea of forced order. Dreams are by in-game definition chaotic, the opposite of reality, not the place where harmony would typically be found. And though the Golden Hour has some dream-like qualities, it doesn't feel like what most would expect of a dream. It's rather linear and easy to navigate, there are a few perspective puzzles that could be considered dream-like but even then those can only be found on the far outskirts of the Golden Hour, blocked from the public by a guard, almost as if they are purposefully keeping them out of view. Compared to the reverie dreamscape with all its walking on walls, ocean motifs, and general chaotic feel, it doesn't really feel much like a dream at all. Despite it all being a part of the dreamscape, from what we've seen so far, only the reverie dreamscape actually feels like a dream, the one place the family is losing control over. And I typed this all out before remembering that Sparkle practically said all of this in a single line but you know what, it's fun to dig into details.

[@Roihclem871]

Reminds me of “there is no war in bah sing sey”

[@Maevix3142]

Pretty much, except that you might just be killed off instead of brainwashed

[@charlesnguyen9852]

Some serious Ta'u or Genestealers vibes going on here.@@Maevix3142

[@Maevix3142]

Wouldnt that be amazing though, the family goes in like a bunch of genestealers and just convinces people how great accepting Xipe is then the full host of harmony descends on the planet after its weakened

[@Andychiu845]

Every path that taken to an extreme will cause dire consequences. I will not surprise if nanook turn out to be an anti-hero, the great balancer that seek to balance the universe.

[@Maevix3142]

Its almost always the followers though that misuse or misinterpret what their aeon wants. Some are more straightforward though like Nanook just wants everything destroyed

[@Zaela_Zhezzaia]

It funny. 2.0 shows that people have left the path of harmony with Robin. As well as a family a multi group. With different roles and ideals. Though if you chose to get the bad ending. It sounds like Robin singing brain washing you. Which does show more like a hive mind.

[@zen4419]

So for anyone who's reading this I just got goosebumps when I discovered this while exploring the dreamscape so it remember there are clockie's scattered within the dreamscape there's one particular clockie that's is sorrounded by purple memoria that's your target find clockie and I promise penacony just got way darker All I can say shaoji just insanely went all on this story and I'm hyped to where this leads to

[@retokazene5085]

Around the time I made this comment, there are leaks for 2.2 HSR weekly boss and one of the animation is... Quite lore heavy and quite related with this video. Lets just say 2.2 will be super interesting for HSR universe

[@Giovansbilly]

Spoiler Is it the revelation of how Ena is never dead, but merely assimilated as a part of Xipe and subordinated to them? And that they're still able to choose an Emanator even in their current state?

[@the_dark_soul_of_man]

Yaoshi the Abundance is another great example yes, as on the surface she only wants to heal and save everyone. But don't forget growing tumours and healing wounds also work on very similar mechanisms. Personally I like these things, as it shows that gods and mortals don't necessarily think on the same scale.

[@Crusina]

I'm somewhat certain a while ago I made a comment saying that Harmony and Xipe being "evil" (quotating marks because as we both know when we talk about evil with aeons we mean both the kind that can't be attributed to them and the kind that we attribute to it) was kind of a common trope that I didn't think Penacony was going to do. I guess after 2.2 I feel somewhat vindicated but at the same time the final boss did represent something fairly close to it at the same time.

[@kerroseir4764]

Moderation is key not too much harmony or too much destruction

[@legendaryswordsman653]

Well we know what the next stop on astral express is and which aeon is based around it so should get more answers next

[@Maevix3142]

I would love a story where every member of the nameless gets indoctrinated into the family except for the trailblazer, and its a more horror-esque main story

[@kikilocket]

I think since all aeons embody their paths exclusively and entirely, it makes us question the values of human life. Specifically it raises the dangers of excess of any core value (no matter how good the value might be perceived as). Too much harmony is just as dangerous as too much destruction

[@BlueBerryGintako]

Path HARMony

[@Maevix3142]

Lmao, you cant have Harmony without a bit of Harm

[@specturv9836]

This is a message of the future, brought to you by the combined efforts of the Remembrance and the Preservation. “The Astral Express crew have uncovered an IPC conspiracy. Prompted by none other than IPS’ Strategic Investment Department’s Aventurine and Memo-keeper Black Swan. These two figures along with other ill-intentioned visitors have been expelled from Penacony’s *brilliant* dream. On a more *important* note, with this, Penacony’s Charmony Festival can proceed smoothly…… may you *never* awake from such a euphoric dream.”

[@fallensnow94]

Penacony is known as the planet of Festivities

[@Maevix3142]

An endless part that goes on and on and on?

[@david_lifeandgames]

Thanks.pls post more of HSR lore as I'm too lazy to read lol.

[@Maevix3142]

Will continue to do so 😁

[@luminemusic9430]

Fellow Dota 2 player

[@SandwichDoggy]

In all honesty, I took one read at Xipe and immediately said hivemind

[@note5068]

Nah why she hot😭

[@Maevix3142]

Pretty sure thats half the reason people join the family in the first place 😂

[@note5068]

@@Maevix3142 cant blame then tbh😂

[@z0ro_62]

4:50 is so wrong in many ways its the only faction so far

[@manoharalisa5829]

We are nearly time will visit path of harmony planet penacony . Wow i imagine a place will full of harmonius choir song.. and a diva who singing with her beautiful voice..

[@z0ro_62]

Just get me to the point where we start offing the gods

[@FauzulRizal]

In a nutshell, Xipe is more like the Aeon of communism and socialism

[@Maevix3142]

Just wait till she turns her head and we meet the angry Xipe, now were just seeing the smiley one 😂

[@m--e]

What

[@jasonj5579]

bruh, you're from south east asia, right?

[@RayleignRonald]

Wilson Larry Lee Thomas Rodriguez Nancy

[@moorejim13]

so the harmony is christianity

[@Symphobit]

Soo.. Xipe is the honkai.

[@Maevix3142]

How so? I didnt play honkai impact so my understanding of the honkai is crap at best but I would like to know how they might be related

[@kpoptimes4987]

​at the point we are honkai's lore is so big and so much to understand that it practically fries your brain(talking from experience lol)